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Hwaunsa Temple, which means “Shining Cloud Temple,” in English, was established as a training centre for Buddhist nuns in 1962. The temple was originally constructed in 1938 by Jaeyun Cha, a Buddhist devotee. He constructed the temple at the foot of Mt. Myeokjosan as a small Buddhist sanctuary. Then, in 1962, the Venerable Biguni Ji Myeong came from Sudeoksa Temple to become the abbot at Hwaunsa Temple. It was under her direction that the temple became a Sangha College for Korean Buddhist nuns. Under her tutelage, over 500 nuns graduated directly under her guidance. In fact, Ven. Ji Myeong was a revered national Seon Master. It was under her that her disciple, Ven. Seonil, the abbot at the temple now, studied.

(Courtesy of the Hwaunsa Temple Facebook Page)

Directions:

From Seoul:

From Seoul, you’ll first need to get to Jogyesa Temple. From the temple, you’ll need to find the Templestay Information Center, which is directly in front of Jogyesa Temple. From the Templestay Information Center, you’ll see the bus stop for the Red Bus #5000 about 50 metres to your right.

The Red Bus #5000 runs Monday to Sunday from 6:30 to 24:00. The bus runs every 10 minutes, and the bus ride to Hwaunsa Temple takes an hour and thirty-eight minutes.

You can take the Red Bus #5000 from Jogyesa Temple, or you can catch Red Bus #5003 directly at Gangnam Station. From Gangnam Station, the bus ride lasts anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes.

Which ever bus you decide to take, you’ll need to follow the signs where they drop you off out in front of Hwaunsa Temple. The walk is a mere 600 metres to the temple.

General Schedule: Hwaunsa Temple conducts two different types of programs. The first is the “Korean Buddhist Educational/Cultural Tour.” And the second program is the “Sunim’s Space: Experience Monastic Life Just as Sunims in Korea Live It!” The first is a one day program, while the other is a two day program.

Hwagyesa Temple was first founded in 1522 A.D by the monk Shinwol. Tragically, the temple was destroyed by fire in 1618. It wasn’t until 1866, through financial support from royal elders, that the temple was rebuilt to its past glory. There are numerous buildings at the temple to enjoy like the Daeung-jeon main hall, the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, as well as the Samseong-gak shaman shrine hall. In addition to these buildings, a visitor can enjoy a small spring to the rear of the temple, and up a valley, called Hwagye-gol. The spring water from Oktak-cheon is said to have curative properties for skin and stomach ailments.

Visitors to the Temple Stay program at Hwagyesa Temple can enjoy Buddhist services, meditation, a forest walk, a tea ceremony, as well as conversations with the numerous international monks that call Hwagyesa Temple home.

Directions:

On the Seoul subway system, you’ll need to get to line #4 and get off at the Suyu subway station. After going out Exit #3, you’ll need to board local Bus #2 for an additional 15 minutes. You’ll need to get off at the Hwagyesa stop.

General Schedule:

Unfortunately, there is no information about the schedule on the Temple Stay website. You will need to contact the temple directly to gain more information about the program’s schedule.

Hwagyesa Temple Information:

Address : 487, Suyu 1-dong Gangbuk-gu Seoul

Tel : 82-2-900-4326 / Fax : 82-2-990-1885

homepage : http://hwagyesa.org

E-mail : zenseoul@yahoo.com

Fees:

Regrettably, there is no fee information on the Temple Stay website. You’ll need to contact the temple directly.

Link:

To contact the temple directly to set an appointment, you can email them at: zenseoul@yahoo.com. Or you can call the Temple stay administration office at: +82-2-900-4326

Another view of Hwagyesa Temple(courtesy of http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/)

Naesosa Temple was first constructed in 633 A.D. by the monk Hyegu. This was during the Baekje Dynasty (18 B.C. – 660 A.D); presently, it’s on the southern outskirts of Byeonsan Bando National Park. At first, the temple was known as Soraesa Temple, but fell into disrepair. About a thousand years later, the temple was rebuilt in 1633 by the monk Cheongmin. It was also around this time that the temple changed its name to its current name: Naesosa Temple. The name of the temple roughly translates as, “Anyone who enters here can get a fresh start on all their problems.”

The Temple Stay program at Naesosa Temple offers a visitor a chance to enjoy the nature that surrounds the temple, as well as what life is like as a Buddhist monk in Korea. With community work built into the program, as well as a trip to a neighbouring waterfall, a visitor gets a first-hand view of what spiritual life must be like for a Korean Buddhist monk.

You’ll first need to get to Buan Bus Terminal in Jeollabuk-do. From this bus terminal, you can take a direct bus to Naesosa Temple. The bus will let you off 800 metres outside the temple grounds. You’ll need to make your way towards the entry gate and past all the stores and restaurants that line the way. You can take a bus or a taxi, which takes about 50 minutes from the Buan Bus Terminal, and it will cost you around 30,000 won. The official website says 30 minutes, but this just isn’t true, so be warned.

General Schedule:

Naesosa Temple runs a single Temple Stay program at its temple.

A: Naesosa Regular Schedule: This program is a scheduled program that runs one night and two days.

Day 1:

14:30: Registration and get a room

15:00: Opening ceremony and an orientation towards temple customs

16:00: Information about Naesosa Temple and introduction to each shrine

Magoksa Temple is situated on the beautiful Mt. Taehwasan in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do. Magoksa Temple was first established in 640 A.D. by the famed monk, Jajang-yulsa. Having fallen into a bit of disrepair, the temple was reconstructed in 1172 by Bojo-guksa. The name of the temple has a bit of an interesting story behind it. After a believer looked at the temple and said it looked like a flax stack in a flax field while Bocheol, from the Silla Dynasty, was preaching. So Magoksa Temple, in English, means “Flax Valley Temple.” Uniquely, and unlike almost all other temples on the Korean peninsula, Magoksa Temple was spared any damage during the destructive Imjin War (1592-98). In fact, during the entire Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the temple suffered no wartime damage.

There are two Temple Stay programs that Magoksa Temple offers a visitor. The first is called the Magoksa Experiential Templestay. This program focuses on experiencing various activities that a monk would participate in like prayer and meditation. The other program, the Recharging Templestay, focuses on a more restive stay with less activities and more free time for participants. The schedule is a little more open than the latter program.

From the Gongju Intercity Bus Terminal, you can get local Bus #770 that will take you directly to Magoksa Temple. The ride lasts about 40 minutes. The first bus leaves at 6:10 in the morning, and the last bus departs at 20:30. In total, the bus leaves 15 times a day.

General Schedule:

Magoksa Temple runs two different programs for their Temple Stay program.

A: Magoksa Experiential Templestay: This program is a scheduled program that runs one night and two days.

Day 1:

4:00-14:30: Arrival and registration in the Yeonhwa-dang

14:30-15:00: Orientation in the Yeonhwa-dang

15:00-16:00: A temple tour

16:00-17:00: Making 108 beads in the Yeonhwa-dang

17:30-18:30: Supper

18:30-19:00: Ringing the Dharma bell at the bell pavilion; and in the evening Yebul (Chanting) in the Dharma Hall

Seonunsa Temple was first built during the reign of the Baekje king, King Wideok, in 577 A.D. by the Ven. Geomdan. During the Joseon Dynasty, the temple prospered and grew to 189 temple buildings and 89 hermitages. However, like much of Korea, it was completely destroyed during the Imjin War (1592 to 1598). Now, Seonunsa Temple consists of 13 buildings including the beautiful Daeungbo-jeon Hall (Main Buddha Hall). But perhaps Seonunsa Temple is best known for the 500 year old camellia trees that bloom behind the temple. They are designated a natural monument by the Korean government. And if you get the opportunity, a visitor should really make the extra effort to visit Dosolam Hermitage on Mt. Dosolsan to see the amazing scenery.

Seonunsa Temple has one of the more diverse and dynamic Temple Stay programs in Korea. For those simply wishing to relax, they can take advantage of the Relaxation-Type program. They can pretty much come and go as they please just as long as they attend the pre-dawn and evening ceremonies. Another program that Seonunsa Temple offers is the Practicing Program, where one comes as close to living like a monk without actually being a monk. The other three schedules, which fall under the Standard Program, are the Theme-Based schedules. In these programs, a person can pick the activities that they want to enjoy whether it be a tea ceremony, making tea, or wood carving. It truly seems like Seonunsa Temple has something for everyone.

From Seoul, take subway lines #3, #7, or #9 to the Seoul Express Bus Terminal, and get a bus for Gochang (3 hours 40 minutes). From the Gochang Intercity Bus Terminal, you can take a local bus to Seonunsa (30 minutes).

General Schedule:

Seonunsa Temple provides 5 different types of schedules for their Temple Stay program. There are three more general schedules, with two more specific schedules for the Theme-Type Program.

A: Relaxation-Type Program:

Here is the schedule for the Relaxation-Type Schedule. This type of program is a one night two day program that simply focuses on relaxation. Although there is no strict schedule to follow, you are encouraged to attend the pre-dawn and evening ceremonies.

18:00~18:20: Evening Ceremonial Service

18:20~21:00: Free Time/Conversation with a Monk

21:00~21:30: Preparing for Bed

21:30~: Bed Time (Lights out)

Day 2:

04:00: Wake Up

04:10~04:50: Pre-Dawn Ceremonial Service

04:50~06:10: Free Time

06:10~06::50: Breakfast

06:50~: Free Time

11:50~12:30: Lunch Time

12:30~13:00: Tidy Up the Room & Packing

13:00: Departure

(Courtesy of the Seonunsa Temple Stay website)

B: Practicing Program:

Here is the schedule for the practicing program at Seonunsa Temple. This program provides the unique opportunity to learn about Korean Buddhism through monastic activities including 108 bows and a relic visit.

21:00~21:30: Preparing for Bed

21:30~: Bed Time (Lights out)

Day 2:

04:00: Wake Up

04:10~04:50: Early Morning Ceremony

05:00~06:00: 108 Bows

06:10~06:50: Breakfast

06:50~07:50: Rest

08:00~09:00: Zen Meditation

09:00~09:30: Rest

09:30~11:30: Walking Meditation to Dosolam Hermitage

11:40~12~30: Lunch

12:30~13:00: Tidy up the Room & Packing

13:00~: Closing Ceremony & Departure

(Courtesy of the Seonunsa Temple Stay website)

C: The Standard-Theme Program:

Here is just one, of the three, standard theme program schedules that they offer at Seonunsa Temple. While this schedule focuses on a tea ceremony, the other activities for the two other schedules are wood carving and making green/lotus tea.

The main hall at Sudeoksa Temple, which dates back to 1308, and is the oldest wooden structure in Korea. (Courtesy of Wikipedia).

Hello Again Everyone!!

Introduction to the Temple:

The exact date as to when Sudeoksa Temple was established is unknown; however, it’s believed to date back to the reign of the Baekje king, King Wideok (r. 554-598 A.D.). Sudeoksa Temple was a large temple from the Goryeo Dynasty through to the Joseon Dynasty. In 1984, the temple was awarded the distinction of becoming a Chongmin Temple, which includes a Seon room, Sutra school and a Precepts school. In total, there are only five of these types of schools in all of Korea, with the others being Haeinsa Temple, Songgwangsa Temple, Tongdosa Temple, and Baekyangsa Temple. There are many cultural properties housed at Sudeoksa Temple, but it’s best known for the Daeung-jeon Hall (The main hall). Sudeoksa Temple was one of the very few historical temples not to be destroyed during the destructive Imjin War (1592-1598). As a result, the main hall, which dates back to 1308, is the oldest wooden structure in all of Korea. Additionally, the Samcheung-tap pagoda that dates back to around the Goryeo Dynasty, the intimidating Heavenly Kings that welcome you to the temple, and the numerous temple buildings, highlight the ancient Sudeoksa Temple.

Sudeoksa Temple is one of the more popular Temple Stay programs with foreign visitors. The program is highlighted by monastic meals, a tea ceremony, and a conversation with monks from Sudeoksa Temple. A visitor can also enjoy the scenic beauty that surrounds Sudeoksa Temple by taking a beautiful hike to the top of Mt. Deoksungsan. You can also enjoy the neighbouring Jeonghyesa Temple and the amazing views from the peak.

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Directions:

There are two ways to get to Sudeoksa Temple from Seoul. First, take subway line # 2 to Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, or you can also take subway line # 3 to the Nambu Bus Terminal, and get a bus to Yaesan (about 2 hours 30 minutes). From the Yaesan Bus Terminal, you can take a local bus directly to Sudeoksa (about 1 hour).

The other way is to take subway line # 2 to the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, or you can take subway line # 3 to the Nambu Bus Terminal, and get a bus for Hongseong (2 hours 10 minutes). From Hongseong Bus Terminal, you can take a local bus directly to Sudeoksa (40 minutes).

Beopjusa Temple (The Place Where Buddha’s Teachings Reside Temple) is beautifully situated in Mt. Songnisan National Park. You first approach the temple up a wide riverside path that is shaded by mature pine trees. There are quite a few unique highlights to this temple like the massive main hall, the Four Heavenly Kings stone lanterns, and the lion based lantern that dates back to 720 A.D. But the two major, and massive, highlights to the temple are the 33 metre tall bronze statue of Mireuk-bul (The Future Buddha) and the Palsang-jeon wooden pagoda that dates back to 1624.

There are two different Temple Stay programs at Beopjusa Temple. The first, The Relaxation Schedule, is one designed for a person that simply wants to enjoy the stress free environment of Beopjusa Temple on their own. A person can wander the grounds without having to follow a set schedule.

The other program, the Regular Schedule, follows a set schedule. During your stay, you’ll enjoy making lotus flowers, Seon meditation, and a meditative walk through the beautiful surrounding woods. So whatever your fancy, Beopjusa Temple has you covered.

To get to Beopjusa Temple, it’s a bit out of the way. You first have to take a bus to Boeun city. From the Boeun Intercity Bus Terminal, you’ll have to take a direct bus to Mt. Songnisan. This bus runs every 30 to 40 minutes throughout the day. When you arrive at Songnisan Intercity Bus Terminal, you’ll have to walk 20 minutes to the Beopjusa Temple/Mt. Songnisan Ticket Office.

From Seoul, there are three different ways you can get to Beopjusa Temple by using the bus:

Jikjisa Temple (“Direct Indicator Temple”) was first established in 418 by the monk, Ado. It’s one of the oldest temples in all of Korea. In addition to its age, Jikjisa Temple is beautifully situated amongst the pines on Mt. Hwangaksan. Besides its age and beauty, the other highlights to this temple are the vast amount of halls that you can visit. The most unique and beautiful aspect is probably the hall that houses 1,000 tiny white Buddha statues. Also, the museum is well worth a look.

The Temple Stay program at Jikjisa Temple focuses on nature. Also, a Dharma talk and the 108 bowing ceremony allow for a better understanding of Korean Buddhism.

From Seoul, and if you want to take the bus, you should first take subway line # 2 to the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, and get a bus for Gimcheon (3 hours). From Gimcheon you can take a local bus to Jikjisa Temple (25 minutes).

And if you want to go to Jikjisa Temple by train from Seoul, you should first take subway lines # 1 or # 4 to Seoul Station. By KTX, it’ll take about two hours. And by slow train, “Mugunghwa”, it takes about three and a half hours. From Gimcheon Station, take a local bus, either #11 or #111, directly to Jikjisa Temple (25 minutes).

However, if you’re leaving from Busan, you can catch a KTX train to Gimcheon from the Hwamyeong Train Station. The train to Gimcheon is about 15,000 won, and it takes about an hour. Once you’ve arrived at the Gimcheon train station, you can catch local buses #11, #111, or #112 from the intercity bus terminal that is just right of the train station parking lot. The bus ride is 1,300 won and lasts about 10 minutes. You can also take a taxi from just out in front of the train station, as well. If you’re travelling in a group, this may be an easier way, as the ride costs about 7,000 to 10,000 won. The bus will drop you off at the bus stop which is a nice 15 minute walk to Jikjisa Temple.

General Schedule:

There are two regular Temple Stay schedules that Jikjisa Temple provides at their temple. The first is the Regular Schedule (Looking into My Mind Straightly), while the other is the Relaxation Schedule, which has no set schedule.

The massive 30 metre tall statue of Yaksayore-bul at Donghwasa Temple in Daegu.

Hello Again Everyone!!

Introduction to the Temple:

On the northern part of Daegu, on Mt. Palgongsan, sits Donghwasa Temple (Paulownia Blossom Temple). Donghwasa Temple was first built in 493 A.D. by the monk, Geukdal-jonja. Other than the lavishly decorated main hall, the real highlight to this temple is the newer section to the temple and the long path that leads up to it. A massive 30 metre tall stone statue of Yaksayore-bul (The Medicine Buddha) stands in the centre of an equally beautiful enclave. The enclave is decorated with various shaman deities, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In front of the massive Buddha stand equally massive stone lanterns and pagodas.

The Temple Stay program at Donghwasa Temple is called “Using Meditation in the Search for My True Self.” So it goes without saying that the central focus of this program is meditation. In fact, participants enjoy Seon meditation near stupas of ancient masters where auspicious energy resides. Other interesting features include making prayer beads and a Dharma talk.

From Seoul, take subway lines No. 1 or No. 4 and get off at Seoul Station. Get a KTX Express Train for Dongdaegu Station (about 1 hour 50 minutes), then walk 10 minutes to the front of Pamita Hospital, where you can take Bus No. 1 to Donghwasa Temple (45 minutes).

And from Daegu, from the Seobu (west) Intercity Bus Terminal in Daegu, you’ll need to take the subway, line 1, that heads towards Anshim and get off at Ahyanggyo Station. From here, take Express Bus #1. The ride will take you about 35 minutes, and it brings you right to the temple.

C: Donghwasa Temple Rest Schedule: This program has no set schedule and participants can enjoy morning service, meditation, or temple strolls. Also, one can stay just one day or up to a week (depending on vacancies).

The snowy Woljeongsa Temple in Gangwon-do. (Courtesy of the Korean Temple Stay website)

Hello Again Everyone!!

Introduction to the Temple:

Woljeongsa Temple was founded in 643 A.D. by the famed monk, Jajang-yulsa; yes, the very same monk that also founded Tongdosa Temple, as well. And like Tongdosa Temple, Woljeongsa Temple possesses the partial remains of the Historical Buddha (Seokgamoni-bul). Other than these relics, Woljeongsa Temple has the nine story stone pagoda that stands out in front of the Jeokgwang-jeon Hall. And directly in front of the ornate pagoda is a seated stone Yaksayore-bul (The Medicine Buddha). This one is a new one, the old one seems to be locked away safely in a museum.

As for the Temple Stay program, it seems as though the program focuses on the entire Buddhist experience with Buddhist services, bell ringing, and a walk in a neighbouring fir tree forest.

From Seoul, take subway line No. 2 and get off at the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, then take a bus for Jinbu (about 2 hours, 10 minutes). After, take a local bus from the Jinbu Bus Terminal to Woljeongsa Temple or Sangwonsa Temple (15 minutes).

General Schedule:

Woljeongsa Temple conducts two types of programs. The first is an Experienced-Based Program, while the other is a Relaxation-Based Program.